A support group for President Bola Tinubu in the last general election, BAT Ambassadors for Nigeria’s Greatness (BANG), has described as disappointing to Muslims, the list of prospective commissioners released last week by the Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
It said the list indicated that the state government had slipped into a “deep-dyed prejudice and discriminations” against adherents of Islam in the state.
BANG, in a statement signed by the chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Y.K.O. Kareem and Women Leader, Alhaja Aisha Hasheem, called for a review of the list to correct “this negative bias” towards Muslims in the state.
According to the group, the government’s action has created a “terrible setback in our journey towards good governance and must be reversed and corrected before it is too late.”
The statement reads in part: “On Friday, the 28th of July, 2023, the Lagos State government reeled out the list of prospective commissioners of the state for the House of Assembly’s approval.
“The list, if anything, exhibited callous insensitivity to diversity, equity and fairness. Is the government saying there are no competent Muslims to fill these positions? This action leaves a sour taste in the mouth despite all the support given to the APC [All Progressives Congress]. The Muslims are highly disappointed.
“The list reeks of prejudice, bigotry and is a slap on the face of every Muslim in Lagos and Nigeria who supported the APC in the last elections. The sacred mimbar (the pulpit in a mosque) was used every Friday to massively mobilise support for Governor Sanwo-Olu, a Christian. While it was clear that his fellow Christian brethren had other candidates in mind, whom they voted for, the Muslims massively delivered their votes for him.
“This is not about religion but about fairness and equity in a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic and extremely accommodating state. We also see this as a possible reprisal and an assuaging attempt towards the aggrieved minds on the Muslim-Muslim ticket disagreement at the national level. How Lagos State should now be a fodder is to us an ill-thought affront to the peaceful and accommodating Muslim community of Lagos.
“Perhaps His Excellency, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, sees himself as the governor of only Christians in Lagos, but governance should be about fairness and equity. Why must Muslims in Lagos State always beg and fight for their constitutional rights in the present dispensation?
“One of the reasons to distrust this administration of unfairness and religious imbalances in appointments happened in the last term of the government, when the six tutor-generals appointed were all Christians, with instances where senior Muslim successors were overlooked for the nearest Christians.”
“Prior to such incident, governments before that had always ensured a balance in such appointments as statutorily required. It took the intervention of the entire stakeholders for the governor to reverse his position.
“We want to herein emphasise that Muslims of the state are not disposable items to be used and discarded at will. The time has come that we insist loud and clear that it cannot and will not be business as usual.
“A reversal and review of this list is not only imperative but critical in correcting this negative bias towards Muslims of Lagos. The constitution leaves no ambiguity on this issue.
“Section 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates that ‘the composition of the government of the federation, a state, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the federation’.
“This (government’s action) has created a terrible setback in our journey towards good governance and must be reversed and corrected before it is too late. The year 2027 is near and we are watching.”
